Major League Soccer isn’t interested in adding a new franchise in Baltimore anytime soon, but its recent survey of the city’s soccer fans could help its D.C. United franchise settle its search for a new stadium.

MLS sent a survey to its Baltimore-area fans Tuesday afternoon, asking about 20 questions designed to gauge their support for a pro soccer franchise to play its games at the proposed Westport waterfront project in South Baltimore.

The questionnaire focused on fans’ potential support of a relocated MLS team — D.C. United, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas and New York Red Bulls were among those listed. While it’s improbable MLS would move its only New York franchise, Sean Dennison, a MLS spokesman, said Wednesday that the league commissioned the survey to “determine the viability of Baltimore as an MLS market” for D.C. United.

Dennison said the information will be shared with United officials “as part of their due diligence in determining a stadium solution that best serves the long-term viability of the club.”

D.C. United has said several times it is considering a move to Baltimore, among other options. The club has played its home games at the 50-year-old RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., since the league was formed in 1996. But high costs and aging facilities have prompted D.C. United to look elsewhere.

RFK can hold 46,000 people for soccer games. D.C. United averages about 15,500 per game, according to MLS statistics.

Meanwhile, state and Baltimore City leaders — starting with former Mayor Sheila Dixon’s administration — have flirted with the club enough to conduct their own study of the possibility of building a soccer-only stadium in the city. The study supports a new facility for major-league soccer, and developer Patrick Turner has proposed making it part of his plans for Westport, the 42-acre redevelopment near Interstate 95 and the Middle Branch.

Ryan O’Doherty, a spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, could not be reached for comment.

Dennison said MLS’ expansion plans are focused for now on adding a second franchise — and its 20th team — in New York. However, no timetable has been set for that franchise’s launch.

“The (New York) market is a priority, but it may take a couple of years before we have the team and stadium finalized,” Dennison said.

This article was originally published by the Baltimore Business Journal, a sister publication of Sporting News.